Q-Poll: 'This race is all but over'

A poll by Quinnipiac University finds Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo with a 20-point lead over Buffalo developer Carl Paladino. Cuomo leads 55-35.

“That Republican wave that’s said to be sweeping the country runs into a levee – a dam, a blockade, whatever figure of speech you like – at the New York border probably because of Carl Paladino’s foot-in-mouth disease,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Attorney General Andrew Cuomo can start measuring the Executive Mansion curtains. This race is all but over.”

I’m polled out. But I take away this: every poll taken this cycle has shown Paladino trailing Cuomo, and most have shown his unfavorability numbers have increased since the primary.

The poll also indicated Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand remains strong against her Republican challenger, ex-Rep. Joe DioGuardi. Sen. Chuck Schumer has double the support of his opponent, Jay Townsend, 64-32. I wrote about this on Sunday.

“Everything’s coming up roses for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand,” Carroll said. “She’s emerged from a position of relative obscurity to take a 23-point lead with less than a week to go. And New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was with her at a fancy gala last week, says she’s ‘stunning.’ If you don’t believe that, ask the Democratic and Republican would-be challengers who have been stunned by her in the last year.”